Cyathea rebeccae
(F. von Mueller) Domin
Rebecca Tree Fern, Black tree fern
(c) Elliot W, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Thomas Mesaglio, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Thomas Mesaglio, some rights reserved (CC BY)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Stem starch, Fronds, Leaves
Young uncurled fronds can be eaten, and starch can be extracted from the upper stem.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally in coastal scrubs in Northeast Queensland in Australia. It grows at all altitudes in the tropical rainforest. It grows up to 1700 m altitude. It cannot tolerate frosts. It needs protection from wind.
Australia*, Indonesia, SE Asia,
How to Identify
A slender tree fern. It grows up to 7 m high. The trunk is woody and 10 cm across. It is fibrous at the base. The top section is covered with frond bases. The leaves are twice divided and dark green and glossy. They are 3 m long by 0.5 m wide. The stalk is dark and covered with scales. The fertile leaflets are slightly smaller than the sterile ones.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from spores and from offsets or suckers.
Notes
There are about 800 Cyathea species.
Names & Synonyms
References (12)
- Andrews, S.B., 1990, Ferns of Queensland. A handbook to the ferns and fern allies. Queensland DPI p 110
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 310
- Chaffey, C.H., 1999, Australian Ferns. Growing them successfully. Kangaroo Press. p 130
- Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 288
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1984, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 3. Lothian. p 141
- Goudey, C.J., 1988, A Handbook of Ferns for Australia and New Zealand. Lothian. p 84
- Hinton, B & B., 1982, A Wilderness in Bloom. Wildflowers of tropical Australia. p 48
- Large, M.F., & Braggins, J.E., 2004, Tree Ferns. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Australia. p 251
- Leiper, G & Houser, J., Mutooroo. Plant Use by Australian Aboriginal People. Assembly press, Queensland.
- Melzer, R., & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 29
- Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 151
- Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 134
